The New Twinn

"Omigosh!" Jessica gushes. "Look at the new guy Reallady is carrying!"

Suddenly a window is filled with Twinns watching a woman carrying a doll, walking home from a friend's house.

"Isn't he dreamy?" Kate sighs.

"What are you puckering up for?" Kim asks, tossing her golden hair. "You look like a little baby! And everyone knows gentlemen prefer blondes."

Mallory snorts. "In case you haven't noticed, there's something Reallady ISN'T carrying."

A wide-eyed Caitlin gasps. "That's right! She left here this morning with one of the blonde Lenoras!"

Beth begins sobbing. "Oh, no! Poor Lenora! If only we'd known we'd never see her again!"

Allison smirks, and exchanges glances with a wise Pearl, but both remain silent. Helen's smile says she's figured it out as well.

"Big deal!" says another blonde Lenora.

"Lenora! She was your Twinn-twin!" Beatriz scolds.

"Exactly. So hands off the new guy, because I'm ENTITLED," huffs Lenora.

With another toss of her head, Kim says, "We'll just see about that!"

"Yes, we certainly will," drawls Audrey.

"Omigosh, he's even cuter close up!" squeals Cookie.

Twinns scatter as they hear the key turn the door lock. With unblinking eyes, they watch as the newcomer is given a place of honor atop the mantel, all the way across the room from his most ardent admirers. When Reallady has her back to them, they flirt outrageously. Since he is under such close scrutiny by human eyes, he cannot respond to them.

"Oh! I'm sure he likes me!" whispers an excited Kate, puckering her lips. When Reallady hears her hit the floor, she's none the wiser that a well-aimed kick was responsible.

"Dear me, Kate, am I going to have to put you on a stand?" says Reallady. Kate's heart beats wildly as she forces herself not to scream. The only thing that robs Twinns of their secret freedom more than a doll stand is to be locked inside a display case. "Well, I suppose this shelf is getting a little too crowded. Here, I'll put you over here with our new boy." The instant she turns around, she hears a series of 'plops', and finds five more dolls on the floor. So she scoops them up as well, but before reaching the mantel, the telephone rings, forcing her to toss the armload of dolls onto the sofa.

"Hello? Well, hi there! Yes, she certainly did. What an artist she is! Really, you can't even tell. He's definitely all boy. Blah, blah-blah, blah-blah-blah." Throughout the conversation, the haphazardly dropped dolls, all with amorous intentions, are forced to remain motionless, as Reallady could return at any moment. Those still in their places permit themselves to laugh silently. Keeping a close watch on the doorway, the newcomer rolls his eyes and sighs. He makes a few gestures before Reallady returns, but does not make himself understood. Pearl, Helen, and Allison chuckle softly. Reallady completes her conversation and returns to the room, staring at the pile of dolls on the sofa, her hands on her hips. "Now, where was I? Oh, Lenora! Here, let's get you onto the mantel with our beautiful boy. I want to get some photographs of the two of you together anyway."

As she is being carried to the shelf, Lenora sticks out her tongue at the Katekimaudreyjessicacookie jumble of arms and legs. "There you go! Meet your new brother!"

As Reallady readies her camera, Lenora thinks, "Brother? I don't THINK so!" She gleefully endures the photo shoot, and for once feels no resentment regarding all the forced poses. She is mere millimeters from her prey.

From across the room, the others watch as the instant Reallady leaves to download her photos, Lenora moves in for the kill. Pearl, Helen, and Allison have to bite the insides of their cheeks to keep from laughing as the new boy pushes Lenora away, and angrily wipes her kiss off his lips. He says something to her just as Reallady returns. Although she shows no other reaction, the other dolls are certain Lenora's skin pales to 01. Then Reallady looks at the mantel with a smile of satisfaction.

"There, Lenora, doesn't your twin sister make a fine twin brother?"


© Brina. 2005